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April 13, 2021

Weeping Water's Ken Heinz Explains How Technology has Impacted Education and Learning



Technology has brought about some of the most significant changes to education and learning in recent history. From the way students learn to how the classroom is managed, technology has impacted nearly every aspect of education. These changes have enhanced the learning process in many ways and, with the rate at which technology evolves, students and educators will likely continue to see changes in the years to come.



Ken Heinz of Weeping Water, Nebraska, has worked in education for 35 years. Today, Ken is retired. He directs a men’s choir in Weeping Water and is actively involved with his church. He discusses how technology has impacted education and learning.

Lesson Planning

Modern technology, like the Internet, has drastically changed the way teachers work and plan. Today, educators have access to a wealth of information online that helps them develop more creative and engaging lessons. The ability to access lesson strategies and ideas allows them to save time on lesson planning so that they can focus on other important aspects of teaching. In addition to the ease with which teachers can access creative lesson ideas, technology has also provided tools to help educators organize and deliver lessons. ClassFlow, for example, allows teachers to simplify their planning process by offering tools for creating engaging lessons and assignments. Educators can store their lesson plans in the cloud and access them anywhere, anytime. Ken Heinz of Weeping Water notes that this capability is a significant improvement over traditional methods of lesson planning and organization.

Collaboration

 

Thanks to technology, educators are now more connected with one another than ever before.

Tools like Microsoft Teams allow teachers not only to interact directly with their students, but also to communicate with their colleagues. This allows them to share ideas and resources more efficiently. Ken Heinz of Weeping Water recognizes that this collaboration is important, as it leads to new and creative teaching approaches. In addition, technology has allowed students to more easily collaborate with their peers. This has enhanced learning by promoting teamwork and new problem-solving skills.

Engagement and Interaction

 

Technology has also significantly increased student engagement and interactive learning. By incorporating tools like YouTube and other multimedia resources, teachers can provide engaging content in various formats. This is also beneficial, as it allows educators to incorporate different forms of learning into their lessons. For example, the use of YouTube (News - Alert) can help teachers address the needs of visual learners. Ken Heinz reports that tools like ClassFlow also allow educators to engage their students and promote increased interaction by using polls, digital activities, and online quizzes in the classroom.

Ken Heinz on Distance Learning

Recently, remote learning has become a very common practice, especially during times when in-person instruction is not possible. Technology has allowed for remote learning to be effective and streamlined. Tools like Zoom have permitted teachers to provide lessons online and to interact with students, even while they are miles apart. Ken Heinz of Weeping Water suggests that distance learning may become commonplace in the years to come. Undoubtedly, advancements in technology will help to ensure that learning remains a social and interactive experience.



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